Latch for automobile doors



July 22, 1930. B. H L 1,770,917

LATCH FOR AUTOMOBILE DOORS Filed Oct. 12, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 "-"I///////////A'///// I July 22, 1930. B. HALL 1,770,917-

v LATCH FOR AUTOMOBILE DOORS.

Filed Oct. 12, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Cal Patented July 22, 1930 UNITEDSTATES BICKNEIQLI HALL. or QUINCY, MASSACHUSETTS LATCH FOR AUTOMOBILEDOORS Application filed. October 12, 1927. Serial No. 225,802.

This invention relates to latches such as are utilized on the doors ofclosed automobiles, and while in certain aspects thereof the inventionis not limited thereto, acardinal object is to provide a latch such aswill permit the installation in a door of a sliding glass panel ofsubstantially the full width of the door, particularly in those doors,whether of allsteel construction or otherwise, having sheet metal lockstiles. The construction illustrated by way of an example of myinvention permits the installation of the glass channel or guide incontact with the inner face of the stile.

My invention will be well understood by reference to the followingdescription of an illustrative l embodiment thereof shown by way ofexample in the accompanying drawings, wherein: a

Fig. 1 is a plan section through an automobile door at the height of thelatch, which door has applied thereto a latch illustrative of theprinciples of my invention.

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the latch detached. For clearness the parts ofthe latch casing are shown as if at right angles. That is, theshut bevelof the door, as illustrated in Fig. 1, has not been shown.

Figs. 3" and tare sections on the lines 33 and -14 of Fig. 1 showing thedoor in open and closed positions respectively, the glass and glasschannel being omitted; and

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 55 of Fig. 1.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, I have there shown in section anautomobile door having a lock stile 7 of sheet metal closing against ajamb 9, the body of the door carrying the sliding glass-panel 11, theedge of which is received in the glass guide or channel 13 here shown asabutting the inner face of the stile 7.

I have herein shown the door as latched by 3 means of a bolt 15projecting from the edge of the door and which herein takes the form ofa cylindrical body cradled in a lug 17 projecting from the jamb face ofthe door. a centrally disposed rivet 18 being herein provided forrotatably retaining the same in position. the upper surface of the bodybeing exposed above the lug and provided with a. series of 33 disposedin the same teeth 19 and a smooth portion 19. As seen in Fig. 5, as thedoor closes the lug 17 rides up the bevel 21 on a fixed underridingsupport.

in the jamb fitting and the teeth 19 roll into engagement with anoverhanging toothed element 25, the engagement in the present instancebeing that of a pinion. with a rack, although in the example shown theteeth 19 are in the form of a segment rather than covering a completecircumference. The pinion-like member 15 moves freely in this directionand it will be clear that if reverse movement is restrained except whenpermitted by a releasing action governed by the door handles the doorwill be held latched. hen the pinion is released for reverse rotationand the door opened, it will roll out, the reaction between it and therack in the opening movement returning it to its initial position. Itwill also be clear that when the teeth are engaged the door will be heldlatched irrespective of the exact position of the pinion along the rackand the door may thus be held in any of a multiplicity of positions.

Referring to Fig. 2 I have herein shown the latch'as organized on acasing comprisiug the plate 27 applied to the inner face of the door andthe angular flange 29 to extend over the jamb face. As seen in Fig. 1,the plate 27 is conveniently let in flush with the lockbar 31 of thedoorwhile the plate 29 isarranged coplanar with the lock stile 7 the latterbeing recessed to receive it. For constructional reasons the'lug 17 maybe formed as a separate member on a base plate plane as the flange 29(see Fig. 2), this plate being here shown as secured by lugs 35extending over the inner face of the plate 29 and riveted thereto. theselugs being laterally disposed (see Figs. 3 and 4) at opposite sides ofthe positionof the glass channel 13. Essentially the plate, 33 is aportion of the flange 29 while the plate or the flange might beconsidered a part of the lock stile and might indeed be so built exceptfor the convenience of constructing the latch as a unit apart from thedoor.

In accordance with my invention the pinion bolt 15 is organized in closeproximity to the j amb face of the door to provide ample clearance.within the door for the glass 11 and herein is'organized outwardly ofthe inner face of the stile 7 so that the channel 13 may abut the innerface of the stile. Furthermore, as will appear as the descriptionproceeds, the restraining means is disposed between the upper and lowerbounding planes of the projecting bolt mechanism so that there is noprojection from the jamb face of the door other than that of the bolt 15and its supporting lug 17 and no cutting away of the jamb 9 is requiredexcept to receive the essential keeper mechanism ,illustrated in Fig. 5.I

In the example of the invention shown the member 15 terminates flushwith the inner face of the stile and (as seen in Figs. 3 and 4) isreduced to provide within the projected contour of the bolt'15 and itslug 17 a camlike element having an edge portion 37 of increasing radiusterminating in an abrupt shoulder 39 toward the inner side of the doorand which may merge at the end of least radius in a straight abutmentsurface 41. Cooperating with this element is a sheet metal slide 43disposed on edge in the plane of the door stile and between theprojected upper and lower bounding planes of the bolt 15 and its lug 17.as will be apparent from the dot-ted lines of Figs. 3 and 4, the slidebeing supported in plate 33 at a fixed distance from the, center of thebolt 15. The slide is provided with a wedge-like abutment surface 45terminating toward the outer side of the door in a shouldered portion 47cooperating with the shoulder 39 in the manner shown in Fig. 3 andpresently to be described. The slide 43 may terminate (see Fig. 1)atopposite sides of the plane of the glass 11 and near the outer andinner faces of the door respectively in laterally extending flanges 49and 51 providing means for shifting the slide transversely of the doorin the plane of the stile against the force of sprlng 53 surroundingguide pin 55 at the inner face 'of the door and normally tending tothrust the slide outwardly or toward the right, vlewing Figs. 3 and 4:in other words. from the position of Fig. 3 to the position of Fig. 4.In Fig. the parts of the latch are shown in the position which theyoccupy when the door is open with the bolt 15 rotated to an extremeposition counterclockwise, viewing Fig. 3, and held in that position byengagement of the shoulder 47 with the shoulder 39, the spring 53 beingcompressed. hen the parts of the latch are positioned as shown in Fig. 3the smooth portion 19 of the pinionlike member 15 is presented above theupper surface of the lug 17 so that almost no rough teeth are exposedwhen the door is opened. Thus it is very unlikely that garments willcatch on the pinion-like member or that it will present or holdparticles of greasy dirt which might be the case if teeth were providedentirely around the circumference of the pinion-like member. This smoothportion 19 also excludes dust and dirt from the inner surfaces of thelug. The only irregularity of the pinion-like member projecting abovethe upper surface of the lug 17 when the door is opened is the abutment19 provided between the first tooth 19 and the smooth portion 19, asshown in dotted lines in Fig. 3. This abutment is stronger than a tooth,which might be broken off when slamming the door shut, because it iswell supported by the portion 19- If the door is now swung shut, theabutment 19 will strike the first tooth of the rack 25, thereby takingthe initial strain, and the bolt will then roll into the keeper towardthe position shown in Fig. 5, and the reaction of the rack 25 willrotate it clockwise, viewing Fig. 3. The first result is to kick theslide 43 to the left, still further compressing the spring 53 andpermitting the shoulder 39 to clear the shoulder 47. The slide is thenreleased to the spring and its wedge-like face 45 moves under the camsurface 37. The angle of the parts is so proportioned that a straintending to move the bolt counterclockwise cannot drive the slide to the,left but at any point between the extreme positions of Figs. 3 and 4 anyclockwise movement of the bolt will permit the slide to move in stillfurther to the right and thus no matter how slightly the bolt may haveentered the keeper it will be held against reverse movement and the doorheld latched by the action of the wedgelike surface 45 of the slide 43'wedging under the cam face 37. In the extreme position, as shown in Fig.4, it will be readily apparent that the slide 43 cannot be displaced byany force tending to rotate the bolt 15 counterclockwise.

To release the latch and open the door the slide 43 may be shifted tothe left in Figs. 3 and 4 .from the position of Fig. 4 and I have hereinshown this as effected. by means of a pushbutton 57 carried by ahand-grip 59 mounted by means of a rose plate 60 at the exterior of thedoor and engaging flange 49 of the slide, the spring 53 serving to holdthe parts in contact. As the pushbutton is depressed.the slide is movedaway from beneath the cam 37 and the door may be drawn open by the pullof the hand on handle 59 and in so doing the bolt will be rotated untilit returns to the position of Fig. 3. The flange 51 at the inner face ofthe door provides suitable means for opening the door by the operationof an inner handle and this is herein indicated as of the so-calledremote control type.

located at a position remote from the lock stile of the door. Herein aportionof the flange 51 is deflected to form a diagonally extending arm61 cooperating with a wedge-like end 63 67. It will be understood thatif by means of.

(see Fig. 1) of a link 65 guided in lock casing plate 27 and normallypressed to an inactive position toward the left in Fig. 2 by a springany suitable handle the link 65 is shifted toward the right in Fig. 2.surface 63 cooperating with surface 61 will draw slide 43 upwarde ly,viewing Fig. 1, or toward the left in Fig. 4.

releasing the bolt. To permit the latch to be dogged from the inner sideof the door against operation by the exterior handle I have hereinillustrated (see Fig. 2) a slide bar 69 installed on the inner face ofcasing plate 27 which may be shifted from the idle position shown inFig. 2 toward the right in that figure to engage behind the flange 51when the latter is in the position of Figs. 1 and 4, thus to prevent'theslide from being moved by the action of the pushbutton 57. Movement ofthe slide 69 may be effected by a suitable thumb-piece 71 which may beinstalled at the inner face of the door, that indicated in Fig. 2 beingof the type disclosed in the patent to Thomas P. Archer and Ernest E.Heintz 1.541.312. dated June 9, 1925, and unnecessary herein toillustrate or describe in detail.

It will be noted that the locking means for the bolt herein exemplifiedby the cam 37 and slidAB are not only arranged outwardly of the innerface of the lock stile to permit the glass channel to engage such facebut, at least in the .location of theglass channel, are received betweenthe upper and lower bounding planes of the projecting bolt mechanism,and

I there is thus no projection at the jamb face of the door due to thepresence of the detent means for the bolt or to themechanism pro vidingfor unlatching the bolt from both the exterior and the interior of the'door other than that inevitable in any latch through the presence-of aprojecting bolt. Moreover, the jamb 9 is not cut away except to seat/thevnecessary keeper to receive the latch bolt.

I have described in detail one particular embodiment of my invention inorderthat the particular construction of the same might be more clearlyunderstood. Obviously, how ever. the particular mechanical constructionshown might be considerably varied without departing from the essentialprinciples involved and what I claim as new and desire to secure byLetters Patent I shall express in detail in the following claims.

Claims:

1. A latch mechanism for doors comprising a casing plate adapted to lieat the jamb face of the door. a lug projecting therefrom. a

\ generally cylindrical member rotata-bly cradled in the lug having aportion toothed to engage a keeper, an inner portion cut away to providea cam-like part with an edge of variable radius, said member terminatingoutward of the inner face of said plate, a detent cooperating with saidcam-like part having a part extending transversely at the edge of thedoor and operating outward of the inner face of said'plate and betweenthe projected upper and lower boundaries of said lug and member andmeans at opposite faces of the door cooperating with the ends of saidpart for operating the same.

2. In a latch mechanism for doors a supporting plate to lie at the jambface of the door having an opening therein, a lug projecting therefromat the opening, a generally cylindrical member cradled in said lug andhaving a part projecting therefrom to interengage with the keeper, theend of said member lying in said opening in the plane of the plate andbeing reduced to provide a locking element, and a cooperating detentsupported on the wall of said opening in the plane of said plate and inalignment with the body of said member and adapted to have force appliedthereto at opposite faces of said door to shift it in said-plane. v

3. A latch for doors comprising a casing plate to lie at the jamb faceof the door, a latching device for engaging a keeper organized at theouter face thereof, catch means to prevent unlatching movement of saiddevice and including forwardly and rearwardly projecting parts toprovide for releasing actuation of said means, said means being disposedoutwardly of the inner face of said plate and between the projectedupper and lower boundaries of said latching device and inner and outerhandles connected to said projecting parts. 1

4. A latch for doors comprising a casing plate to lie at the jamb faceof the door, a bolt support projecting therefrom, a latch bolt carriedin the support, catch means to prevent unlatching movement of the'boltand including forwardly and rearwardly projecting parts to provide forreleasing actuation of said means, said means'being disposed outwardlyof the inner face of said plate and between the projected upper andlower boundaries of said bolt and its support and inner and outerhandles connected to said projecting parts. I

5. A latch for an automobile door having a sheet metal lock stile and aglass guide expart pro ecting for interlocking engagement I with akeeper, said bolt terminating outwardl v of the inner face of the stileand having at its inner end a, locking portion, cooperating detent meansdisposed outwardly of the inner face of the stile having operatingportions extending inwardly and outwardly past the planes of the innerand outer faces of the glass guide, said locking portion and detentmeans being organized between the projected upper and lower boundariesof said bolt and lug.

6. A latch for an automobile door having a sheet metal lock stile andaglass guide extending along the inner face thereof, comprising a lugwhich projects from the amb face of the door when the latch is in place,a bolt rotatably cradled therein and having a part projecting forinterlocking engagement with a keeper, said bolt terminating in theplane of said stile in a locking portion, cooperating detent meansextending in the plane of said stile having operating portions extendinginwardly and outwardly past the planes of the inner and outer faces ofthe glass guide, said locking portion and detent means being organizedbetween theprojected upper and lower boundaries of said bolt and lug.

7. A latch mechanism for an automobile door of the type carrying avertically slidable panel between the edges thereof, abolt carriedexteriorly of the jamb face of the door freely movable to latch with acooper ating keeper, :1" member operating in a plane closely adjacentsaid face and extending transversely of the said panel at the side rthereof, said member being automatically movable to hold said bolt fromunlatching and inside and outside operating devices on opposite faces ofsaid panel connected to said member for shifting the same to release thebolt.

8. A latch mechanism for automobile doors of the type having a glassguide therein in close proximity to the jamb face'comprising a rotatablebolt projecting axially from the j amb face of the door and adapted toroll into engagement witha-keeper, a part on the tail of the bolt havingan edge of increasing radius and turning with the bolt in closeproximity to the jamb face, a member extending in the plane of said parttransversely across the edge of the glass guide and carrying an abutmentsurface cooperating with said edge, said member being normally projectedto prevent reverse movement of the bolt. and means disposed at oppositefaces of the glass connected to the ends of said member for moving thesame to release the bolt.

9. A latch mechanism for an automobile door of the type carrying avertically slid-' able panel of substantially the full width of the bodyof the door comprising a latch bolt pro ecting at an edge of the doorand having latching and unlatching movements in a plane substantiallyparallel to the j amb face. inner and outer handles, an unlatchingdevice cooperating with said bolt to move the same and having portionsdisposed on opposite faces of the panel connected with said handles anda connecting portion transversely crossing the edge of said panel andarranged to lie outwardly of the inner face of the jamb stile of thedoor and being receivedin a zone between the projected upper and lowersurfaces of said bolt.

tatable bolt projecting axially from the jamb face of the door andadapted to roll into engagement with a keeper, a part at the tail of thebolt having an edge of increasing radius presented in a planesubstantially parallel to the jamb face and a catch automaticallyadvanced into cooperation with said face to lockthe bolt against reversemovement, said catch being capable of manual retraction from the edge ofsaid part and said part and catch operating in close proximity to thejamb face.

12. In a latchmechanism for doors a lug extending from the jamb face ofthe door, a rotatable-bolt supported in the lug, said bolt having aseries of teeth extending partway around the circumference thereof, said7 teeth being adapted to roll into engagement with a toothed keeper, anda smooth faced portion extending from adjacent to said teeth at theperiphery of said bolt, said smooth faced portion of said bolt being'adapted to be exposed when the bolt is disengaged from the keeperthereby to prevent I catching of garments on the bolt.

13. In 'a latch mechanism for doors a lug extending from the jamb faceof the door, a rotatable bolt supported in the lug, said bolt havinga-series of teeth extending part-way around the circumference thereof,said'teeth being adapted to roll into engagement with a toothedkeeper,'and a smooth faced portion extending from adjacent'to' saidteeth at the periphery of said bolt, said smooth faced portion of saidbolt being adapted to be exposed when the bolt is disengaged from thekeeper thereby to .prevent' catching of garments on the bolt and anabutment at the periphery of said bolt back supported by that portion ofthe bolt providing the smooth portion to take the initial part of thestrain of the engaging movement between the teeth of the bolt and theteeth of the keeper.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

BICKNELL HALL.

